Our writers answer whether Liverpool should look to re-sign Trent Alexander-Arnold given the issues Andoni Iraola currently has at right-back.
Our Liverpool writers believe Alexander Isak (right) would be certainly be grateful for Trent Alexander-Arnold's return to Liverpool
Our Liverpool writers believe Alexander Isak (right) would be certainly be grateful for Trent Alexander-Arnold's return to Liverpool
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Trent Alexander-Arnold is back in England after being handed a recall to the national team despite his struggles at Real Madrid continuing since his high-profile move from his boyhood club Liverpool.
The 27-year-old will be keen to remind Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel of his talents after being left out of the German's World Cup squad. That decision rounded off a tough first season in Spain for the Reds academy graduate.
And Alexander-Arnold's prospects under new boss Jose Mourinho have yet to improve in the current campaign with the right-back having started the majority of Madrid's matches from the bench.
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But back at Liverpool, there is a strong argument to suggest that they have yet to replace a player who won it all across nine seasons with the club. Indeed, former England boss Sam Allardyce this week went as far as to say: "If he is going to be a Real Madrid player then this season he needs to be playing more than ever - if not, he should come back to the Premier League - Liverpool could do with him back."
So does Big Sam have a point? Do the Reds need Alexander-Arnold? And if there was a deal to be done, should they explore it? We asked our Liverpool writers for their opinion...
Ian Doyle
Take away any emotion, and it's an absolute no-brainer: if Liverpool have a realistic opportunity of bringing back Trent Alexander-Arnold in the near future, they should grab it with both hands.
And if the emotion of the situation is brought into consideration, it's an absolute no-brainer: if Liverpool have a realistic opportunity of bringing back Trent Alexander-Arnold in the near future, they should grab it with both hands.
There's no doubt the right-back is having a tough time at Real Madrid. It hasn't panned out as he would have foreseen, even if his trials and tribulations were patently obvious to some observers.
It impacted his international claims and meant he missed out on the summer's World Cup. He probably only has another one of those remaining.
Alexander-Arnold is never going to win the Ballon d'Or. Moving to Real Madrid actually reduced those chances because he has surrounded himself with other players who, operating further upfield for one of the darlings of the award, were always going to have a greater claim.
And at the moment it doesn't like he'll be winning much silverware with the team either given Barcelona appear the dominant force once again in Spain while Paris Saint-Germain rule Europe.
Liverpool haven't really recovered properly from Alexander-Arnold leaving, with the right-back situation a bit of a headache for Andoni Iraola with Conor Bradley still to recover from a serious knee injury.
And it would only take a few great passes and assists for the dissenters who were happily jeering a Reds player back in May 2025 to forget about their previous abuse. Such are the vagaries of modern football followers. Oh, and Alexander Isak wouldn't be complaining, that's for sure.
Is Alexander-Arnold going to ever return to Liverpool? Almost certainly not. But would he be welcome back in the Reds squad? Absolutely.
Theo Squires
Liverpool have missed Trent Alexander-Arnold. And dare I say it, given his mixed plight at Real Madrid to date, perhaps the feeling is mutual?
As the Reds continue to embark on this next chapter, trying to follow on from Jurgen Klopp’s mentality monsters, it remains quite surreal that the Scouser in the team is not at the heart and centre of it.
His desire to try his luck at the Bernabeu is understandable, but so is the backlash he received from supporters after opting to leave at the end of his contract.
But with the right-back position having been a significant headache for Liverpool ever since he exited, the Reds would be wise to re-sign the defender if he became available.
Of course, the fee and wages would have to be right. But no-one doubts Alexander-Arnold’s quality on the pitch.
Imagine the England international whipping in crosses for Alexander Isak to feed off. Such a combination would be a guarantee of goals.
Plenty has been made of his defensive abilities, but his playmaking abilities are world class.
You can forgive the occasional lapse in judgement at the back. What he would offer in the final third more than makes up for that.
With Liverpool’s new-look attack not quite clicking yet, perhaps Alexander-Arnold is exactly what Andoni Iraola needs to unlock it.
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 20: Head Coach Andoni Iraola of Liverpool with assistants Tommy Elphick and Shaun Cooper during the Premier League 2026/27 match between AFC Bournemouth and Liverpool FC at Vitality Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola has reverted to playing new centre-back signing Ronald Araujo at right-back(Image: AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)
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Mark Jones
So much has gone on at Liverpool recently that it is hard to believe it is only 16 months since Real Madrid announced the signing of Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The Reds have pretty much missed him ever since, with the attempts to move on from the gameplan which got the best out of a unique talent from right-back faltering due to the pitfalls of injuries, lack or form and, most pertinently, almost constantly changing personnel.
The right-back role in Arne Slot's Liverpool side came with a revolving door in front of it last season, and while Ronald Araujo has been the most impressive of Andoni Iraola's performers in the position in 2026/27, he is clearly a centre-back who is being pressed into service at a time when staying compact and solid is near the top of Iraola's priority list.
There will come a time when it won't be, and that is when a right-back such as Alexander-Arnold would be a Godsend for the Liverpool head coach. Or for anyone, in truth.
Alexander-Arnold's ability to dictate play from deep is almost unmatched, and it is no surprise that the Reds can often look their most threatening when [Dominik Szoboszlai](http://Dominik Szoboszlai) goes out there and performs his Trent impression, but that of course takes out a major goalscoring threat at the same time.
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So if the chance came to bring him back then of course it should be taken. Bygones can surely be bygones, can't they?
All it would take would be one crossfield pass and he'd be forgiven.